How to Care for Your All-on-4 Implants

All-on-4^® implants are a comfortable and surprisingly healthy alternative to traditional dentures. They take the form of four dental implants that oral surgeons place along the length of a dental arch. 

Dental specialists like oral surgeons or periodontists take care to place the All-on-4^® implants at strategic locations that provide maximum stability for the dentures that sit on the implants. They proceed to load a set of fixed dentures onto the implants.

To fully enjoy the advantages of All-on-4^® implants, you need to ensure their health and longevity. You probably know that a major advantage of implant-supported restorations is that they look, feel and function a lot like natural teeth. This fact implies that caring for implant-supported teeth replacements is similar to caring for natural teeth. Does this logic hold for All-on-4^® implants?

What is it like to live with All-on-4^® implants?

For starters, the dentures that sit on top of the implants are immovable, thanks to the stabilizing support of said implants. This allows the wearer to eat, talk and smile as if they still have their natural teeth.

Secondly, the All-on-4^® implants are biocompatible, and as such, they simulate the presence of teeth roots in the jawbone. The implants stimulate the regeneration of bone tissue, which slows the rate of bone loss. The happy end result is that the face of a person with All-on-4^® implants retains its definition, thanks to a healthy jawbone.

Lastly, it bears mentioning that living with implant-supported dentures is not the same as living with natural teeth or implant-supported crowns. With the dentures, there is the minor drawback of food finding its way into the space between the gums and the dentures that sit on them. 

This means that a person with All-on-4^® implants needs to take additional measures to keep their mouth clean. That said, the oral care routine that goes into the maintenance of All-on-4^® implants is manageable. Here are some pointers to help with the care of All-on-4^® implants.

1. Adopt a great oral hygiene routine for All-on-4^® implants

A person with All-on-4^® implants needs to brush their teeth at least twice a day. As they clean their artificial teeth, the person must take extra care to keep the gums clean as well. This means that a toothbrush alone won’t cut it. Here is how to clean a mouth with All-on-4^® implants.

• Brush the teeth for at least two minutes, taking care to clean every surface that is reachable with a toothbrush
• Clean the space between the dentures and the gum to remove any food stuck there. Consider using an oral irrigation tool to shoot a blast of water that will dislodge debris from hard to reach spaces
• A gum stimulator is a tool with a thin rubber tip that can fit in the space between the gums and dentures. Use it to scrape the surface of the gums and dislodge debris and scrape plaque off the gums
• Also, floss once or twice a day, at an hour when you have enough time and energy to do a good job
• Lastly, rinse the mouth one final time

This routine may seem long but it actually takes a surprisingly short time. Flossing may add a few minutes to the process, but the extra time that a person spends on the routine is for a good cause. So invest a few minutes and a few useful tools towards the long-term health of All-on-4^® implants.

2. Adopt good oral habits

Fastidious oral hygiene goes a long way to keep All-on-4® implants in good condition. That said, a person should take additional measures:

• Avoid super-hard foods that could break the dentures
• Avoid biting down on hard objects like ice chips or bottle caps. These too could break the dentures
• People with a history of teeth grinding should get a nightguard to protect their jaws and the implants that sit on them 

These are preventative measures that protect the dentures, eliminating the need for unnecessary repairs.

3. Make routine dental visits a habit

A dentist is a great resource when it comes to the care of All-on-4^® implants, so make it a point to see one every six months. We have vast experience installing All-on-4^® implants and other types of fixed dentures.

Get a permanent solution for your missing teeth

There are several advantages of routine dental visits. For starters, you get to enjoy professional teeth cleaning services that keep your teeth looking great. You also get useful advice on how to take care of your All-on-4^® implants. Best of all, routine dental visits allow the dentist to catch and correct dental problems in their early stages before they turn into bigger and more expensive problems.

Request an appointment here: https://www.titandentalcare.com or call Titan Dental Care at (703) 745-3227 for an appointment in our Sterling office.

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